Nigeria’s first original version of the game of chess – Guardian Life – The Guardian Nigeria News – News from Nigeria and the world | So Good News

By Guardian Life

30 October 2022 | 14:00

The Agidingbi chess game of 1851 is the first original version of the Nigerian chess game. Inspired by historical narratives around Lagos that most Nigerians don’t know about, Oludamola Adebowale, historian, art curator and founder of ASIRI magazine, talks to Guardian Life about the importance of historical preservation through chess. Of all events…

The Agidingbi chess game of 1851 is the first original version of the Nigerian chess game. Inspired by historical narratives around Lagos that most Nigerians don’t know about, Oludamola Adebowale, historian, art curator and founder of ASIRI magazine, talks to Guardian Life about the importance of historical preservation through chess.

Of all the events that happened in Lagos, why the bombing of Lagos in 1851?
The history of Lagos is full of untold events, but one that stands out is the 1851 British naval bombardment of Lagos. This event led to the annexation of Lagos in 1861 and this formed the basis of colonial rule in Lagos, which would later become Nigeria. Based on this historical narrative, I created “Agidinbi chess game in 1851”.

In addition, as a curator and researcher of history, I believe it is more important than ever to use technology as a tool to digitize history and preserve and expand the boundaries of storytelling.

The characters on the board have unique names: Erelu-Kuti of Lagos (Queen Mother), Oba of Lagos (King), Adamu Eyo (Rock), Omo Ogun Eko (Pioneer), Eletu-Odibo (Bishop) and Abagbon (Knight). What influenced the names?

To set the scene for this game, we had to incorporate the traditional royalty of Lagos into the characters. The aim is to give Nigerians playing the game a sense of home while playing the game. So the next time you are playing a game of Chess, you are playing “our” version of the game of Chess.

What’s the most exciting thing about this board, and what impression does 1851 Agidinbi hope to leave on players’ minds?

The board game’s 3D design was revealed last week. It’s not just a game of chess; it is a collector’s piece of art. This is a must for anyone who loves history, chess and art in Lagos. The impact Agidingbi plans to create with the 1851 chess game is to export the history of Lagos through chess.

What are the plans for Agindinbi in Diaspora in 1851?

We have plans for virtual reality, XR immersive experiences and exhibitions. We are also planning to create a UK/Nigerian history and culture exchange tour with the game. Knowing that the world wants authentic African stories. We plan to export the history of Lagos and Nigeria to the rest of the world. The plaque will be unveiled in December to mark the 171st anniversary of the bombing of Lagos.